Chiang Mai – Songkran

Via: Thai Visa

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/547729-2012-songkran-chiangmai-a-lot-of-fun-pics/page__st__25

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The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, Khmer: សង្រ្កាន្ត; from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti, or literally “astrological passage”) is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then.

Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from an Indian festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south.

However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture.

Read more, HERE:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran

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Bangkok – topless teenage revellers fined B500 for obscenity

Via: Bangkok Post

The three surrendered to police last night, said Metropolitan Police Division 6 chief Suwat Jaengyotsuk.

As a mainly male audience cheered and the trio’s festive mood skyrocketed, they took off their shirts and danced topless on a car roof on Friday, the last day of the Songkran festival, near the intersection of Silom and Narathiwat
Ratchanakharin roads.

“They claimed they were not drunk,” said Pol Maj Gen Suwat.

They are aged between 14 and 16 years old, police said, and they were fined 500 (+/- $16.66 USD) baht each on obscenity charges.

Anybody who has distributed video footage of their topless dance over the internet should also face charges, Pol Col Monchai said.

Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said those who cheered the girls on and urged them to take off their clothes should be considered supporters of the crime, although they will not be prosecuted.

and meanwhile:

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombut swiftly ordered the removal of a painting of topless women from the the ministry website (see above) after speculation that it may have influenced the girls.

The website featured the watercolour painting by Somphop Butrach, depicting three topless women otherwise dressed in ancient Thai garments, welcoming the Thai New Year.

“Sometimes, art and obscenity overlaps,” Mr Nitwit said. But he said if people considered this painting to be indecent, he was worried that other artistic pictures and statues of topless women could no longer be displayed in public.

“Or maybe we have to buy bras to cover up the Nang Ngueak and Peesua Samut sculptures to prevent obscenity,” he said, referring to a topless mermaid and female sea giant from the Phra Apai-manee legendary tale.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/232503/topless-teenage-revellers-fined-b500-for-obscenity

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my thoughts:

1. I’m sure taking down the ‘art, or obenity’ from the Ministy of Culture website will stop teenage girls from checkin’ out the ‘art, or obenity’.

But, what about the Ministry of Energy, or the Ministry of Fisheries – huh? huh, huh?

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2. I ALSO think the bra idea is BRILLIANT!

(.) (.)      (.) (.)      (.) (.)

then again, maybe not

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Songkran, is it over today?

Except possibly for some drunk falangs (foreigners), and little kids, probably so.

Happy Songkran!

It’s currently RAINING in Chiang Mai!

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Forecast for Tomorrow is ‘Scattered T-storms’.

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Forecast Friday – Mostly Sunny

Yeah well maybe, ’cause that’s what they said about TODAY.

Songkran – officially 13 to 15 April

Except in Chiang Mai – the photo was taken yesterday, March 11.

It will no doubt go into the weekend, March 16 and 17.

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The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, from Sanskrit saṃkrānti,^[1] “astrological passage”) is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran

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I’ve instituted a self-imposed, semi-house-arrest; until the 16th, possibly the 17th.

Booze-free ‘safety areas’ set for Songkran

via: The Nation

“Safety areas” for Songkran water fights and celebrations are to be designated at 60 locations in 44 provinces this year, a network of antialcohol and accident prevention groups said yesterday.

The zones are aimed at tackling drunk driving and reducing road accident rates and crime during the festival from April 1317 this year.

April 1317? – April 13 through April 17

Sale and consumption of liquor will be prohibited in the areas, with Sonkgran revellers encouraged to gather and celebrate traditional events, said Supreeda Adulyanont, a senior Thai Health Promotion Foundation official.

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- There have been an average of 1,948 DEATHS  per YEAR during Songkran in the PAST FOUR YEARS and another 1,423 people made disabled by road accidents caused by drunk driving.

- A similar survey found that 58 PER CENT of PEOPLE KILLED in road accidents last year had been DRINKING, with a QUARTED of them being under 20.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/04/08/national/Booze-free-safety-areas-set-for-Songkran-30152785.html

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1,948 x 58% = 1,130 x 25% = 282 deaths UNDER age 20

I personally think it’s a excellant campaign, and I wish them well.